the latest numbers show home prices in the 20-biggest cities jumped 4.3% in october. that's compared to a year ago. and the standard & poor's case schiller report shows, since january, prices are up 6.9%. >>> it's a different story for holiday sales, which are turning out to be the weakest since 2008. one retail report says sales in the two months leading up to christmas were up just 0.7% from last year. one reason being given is the impact of hurricane sandy across the northeast. now, stores are trying to lure in shoppers with some deep, deep post-christmas discounts. >>> and some starbucks stores in the nation's capital are serving up a political message with their coffee. ceo howard schultz is urging employees in washington, d.c. area starbucks to write come together on the customers' cups today and tomorrow. it's a message to urge lawmakers to work out a deal to keep the country from going over that fiscal cliff next week, which would send taxes soaring while slashing spending. >>> meanwhile, hollywood has something to celebrate as we close out 2012. it's been a v